The US House of Representatives has reignited the debate over TikTok with a renewed effort to potentially ban the app or force its sale. This time around, the bill was attached to a critical foreign aid package, giving it higher priority and potentially expediting
The new version of the bill requires ByteDance to sell TikTok within a year
Previously, a similar bill passed the House in March but stalled in the Senate. This revised version offers TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, a year to sell the app if the bill is enacted, compared to the original six-month deadline. The House approved the bill with a strong 360-58 vote.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where a vote could happen as early as next Tuesday. Senate leaders are currently working on a timeline for the foreign aid package vote, which will determine the fate of the TikTok provision attached to it. President Biden has previously indicated his support for the bill if passed by Congress.
The legislation views TikTok as a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership. However, a potential ban faces strong opposition. With an estimated 170 million US users, according to TikTok itself, ByteDance is likely to challenge any such move. The company argues that a ban would violate user free speech rights, harm millions of businesses that utilize the platform, and negatively impact the US economy to the tune of $24 billion annually. Critics of the bill further argue that banning TikTok offers minimal protection for American user data.
RELATED:
- TikTok Tests AI Virtual Influencers for E-commerce Amidst Rising Concerns
- TikTok Announces a Global Youth Council – a Team of 15 Teenagers from Different Countries
- Lenovo Legion Y700 2024: Latest Gaming Tablet with Enhanced Display now available at Giztop
- REDMAGIC Magnetic VC Cooler 5 Pro now available at a discounted price at GeekWills
- Top 6 HyperOS Features You Absolutely Can’t Miss
(Via)
